Roughly 30 minutes after the close of practice, the 6,000 or so fans at the Washington Commanders’ training camp practice Sunday morning erupted in cheers and chants of “TER-RY! TER-RY!”
Terry McLaurin, the star wide receiver who missed much of the offseason and the start of camp as he seeks a new contract, emerged from Washington’s facility in a cutoff white T-shirt and burgundy shorts as his teammates, drenched in sweat from their on-field workout, sauntered inside.
“We love you, Terry!” one fan screamed.
“They need to re-sign you!” another chimed in.
McLaurin ended his holdout Sunday — the first practice open to the public this year — and was placed on the active/physically unable to perform list with an ankle injury. He does not have a new deal with the team, and he gave no indication that progress was made toward reaching one.
After a brief chat with running backs coach Anthony Lynn and a lengthier conversation with his agent, Buddy Baker, McLaurin headed for the fans, who packed in close behind a white fence to try to score an autograph. By the time he was finished, he was drenched, too.
“It feels good to be around my teammates and around my fans,” he said after signing autographs for more than 30 minutes. “I can’t beat that at all. They show me a lot of love and support, and I just try to give that back, not just on the field but off the field.”
While on the PUP list, McLaurin counts against the Commanders’ 90-player offseason roster cap and can participate in meetings but not on-field work. He can return at any point.
Coach Dan Quinn indicated before practice that McLaurin would be on a side field alongside guard Sam Cosmi (torn ACL) working with the team’s athletic trainers. But McLaurin remained inside for the duration of practice.
End of carousel
McLaurin admitted it was “tough” to watch practice without participating but said, “It’s the business right now, and [I’m] just trying to take things day by day.”
When asked why he decided to return now, he said simply, “I’m here” — and then jogged inside the facility.
“I’m really pumped that he’s here, man,” Quinn said. “He’s such an awesome competitor. We had a chance to spend some time together [Saturday]. It was great to see him.”
McLaurin participated at the start of Washington’s offseason program, but he skipped most of the voluntary organized team activities and held out for all of mandatory minicamp, potentially costing him $105,000 in fines.
McLaurin did not report to camp Tuesday and missed the first three days of practices, costing him $200,000 in fines. He also did not collect a $500,000 workout bonus, putting his total in lost money at more than $800,000.
A week before Commanders veterans were required to report to camp, McLaurin spoke with reporters at length after a commercial shoot about his “frustration” and “disappointment” over his contract negotiations.
“Everything that’s transpired up to this point has been disappointing and frustrating,” he said. He claimed there had been no communication with the team about his contract in more than a month and “without any progressive discussions, it’s kind of hard to see how I step on the field” in training camp.
McLaurin still has one year remaining on the three-year extension he signed in 2022, which carries an average value of roughly $22.8 million. He will earn $19.7 million in total cash this season, which ranks 15th among wide receivers — a standing he believes does not align with his value.
The wide receiver market has exploded in recent years and now includes nine players averaging at least $30 million.
“I feel like I’m one of the best receivers in this league, and it’s not because of me just feeling that way,” McLaurin argued this month. “I feel like I’ve proven it. And I’ll continue to work hard to prove it.”
A starter since his rookie season, McLaurin has missed just three games in his career and has topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of the past five seasons, all while playing with a revolving door of quarterbacks. With Jayden Daniels last season, McLaurin had a career year with 13 receiving touchdowns, the second most in the NFL.
McLaurin has never stated how much he’s looking to earn in his next deal, but it’s plausible the floor is $32 million to $33 million. DK Metcalf, a fellow 2019 draft pick whose production has been similar in many statistical categories, signed a four-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers in March that averages $33 million in annual value. Two weeks ago, Garrett Wilson signed a four-year pact with the New York Jets that averages $32.5 million.
The difference: Metcalf is 27, and Wilson is 25. McLaurin will turn 30 in September, which means his first season on a new deal will be when he’s 31. Over the past decade, only nine wideouts topped 1,000 yards at age 31 or older, according to Pro Football Reference. Only seven of those wide receivers started and played in every game of the season.
Sunday’s workout was the first of three Commanders camp practices open to the public and was part of the league’s “Back Together Weekend” in which all 32 teams open their camps to fans. For some, it also includes a heavy national TV presence: ESPN and NFL Network broadcast live from Ashburn, Virginia, on Sunday.
